Page 33 of Wagon Train Redemption
Not giving himself time to reconsider or her time to protest, he lifted her to the ground, reached up, and did the same for Ruby, proving to them all that he was only acting as a big brother, although those weren’t big-brotherly feelings tingling up his arm. Why did it feel different to lift Angela than it did to help Ruby? Angela was part of the Woods family. Practically his sister. Except she wasn’t.
Both murmured their thanks as they padded through the wet grass to join Ma. Gabe cleared away a spot for the fire and set out wood, creating a base and arranging kindling and logs on top of it. In minutes, flames crackled, the warmth drawing everyone close. Cecil and Dobie put out the log stools while Angela, perhaps in response to Carson’s appeal for coffee, ground the beans, filled the pot from the water barrel, and as she set it over the flames, flashed him a smile.
“Thanks,” he murmured.
Petey fussed, and Hazel offered him a biscuit from the tin.
Carson was surrounded by family, a part of family life, something he had missed. So why couldn’t he settle down and relax? Why worry over how long they could be stuck on this hill when they were safe and dry?
All he needed to do was remind himself of the facts and stop letting his gaze follow Angela as she helped.
Soon Ma and the girls had a hearty breakfast ready. Gabe said grace, added thanks for safety in the deluge, and asked for the waters to recede.
“Hot food is a real comfort,” Carson said.
“And hot coffee?” Angela’s teasing note brought a smile to his mouth.
“Especially hot coffee. Thanks.” To make it clear he wasn’t signaling out Angela, he added, “Everyone.”
“Have some more.” She refilled his cup.
Did her attention linger a fraction longer on him than it did on the others as she refilled their cups? Or was he being fanciful? Even foolish? Just because they’d shared close quarters during the deluge, and he’d felt protective? And?—
What? He’d only done his best to keep both girls warm and dry.
He gulped hot coffee that burned all the way down his throat and gave him something else to think about. His cupwas soon empty. But none of them seemed inclined to rush the meal, so he took another biscuit and drowned it in syrup.
“I not like rain.” Bertie announced to everyone as he wrapped an arm around Alice’s neck. Limpy, sensing his owner’s fear, pressed to Bertie’s knees. The two cats curled up on Bertie’s lap.
“Me either.” Dobie rocked his head back and forth. “But Ma said I was warm and dry so I shouldn’t fuss.”
“And you didn’t. I’m proud of you.” Cecil squeezed the boy’s arm.
“I liked it when Ma told me stories.”
Cecil chuckled. “Me too.”
“Mama tell me stories too,” Bertie said. “About David and the giant. That my favoritest story.”
Gabe grinned at Ma. “That would explain why she told it a dozen times.”
“Yup.” Bertie crowed with pleasure while the others smiled.
“What did the rest of you do to amuse yourselves?” Gabe asked.
“Ruby drew pictures of Robert.” Carson’s answer brought chuckles.
At the challenge in Ruby’s eyes, he regretted telling on her. Surely, she wouldn’t repeat his story about the murders. To be on the safe side, he rushed on. “I’m happy she and Robert discovered each other.”
Yup. That worked. A dreamy look glazed her eyes, and her shoulders loosened. Then she stiffened and glowered at the water rushing by them on every side. “How long are we going to be stranded here?”
No one had an answer. She grabbed the empty plates and carried them to the washbasin, signaling the meal was over.
When the men wandered down to the water’s edge to stareat the turgid stream, Walt crossed his arms and shook his head. “Certainly a lot of debris in it.”
Cecil kicked a rock. It splashed into the water and disappeared from sight. “Looks like it’s washed away a bank somewhere.”
A tree caught on the bottom, twisted upon itself, broke free, and raced onward.
